Suction device



Oct. 14, 1947.I G. J. scoFu-:L 2,428,921

- sUcTIoN DEVICE Filed oct. 7, 1944 l 2 sheets-sheet 1 IN VEN TOR.

Oct. 14, 1947. y G. J. sC'oFlELD I "2,428,921

' .sUcTIoN DEVICE v Filed Oct. 7, 1944 zysheets-Sheet 2 E if Hill V INVENT'OR.

v NMa/Qu" Patented Oct. 14, 1947 UNITED STATES'IPATENT .OFFICE sUcTIoNHDEvIcE Gilbert J. Scofield; Louaonviue, N. Y.

AApplication October 7, 1944, Serial No. 557,661

1 This invention relates to improvements in paper manufacturing apparatus and is directed `more particularly to improvements in suction apparatus therefor.

The principal objects of the invention aredirected to the provision of a suction device for paper-making apparatus which is characterized by means for rotatably supportingv the traveling element of a paper machine such as the Fourdrinier wire or felt.

The novel features of the invention are adapted for broad application and while reference may be made herein to its use in connection with a Fourdrinier wire, it will be understood that the invention may be adapted for many and various other uses.

It is common practice in connection with a Fourdrinier machine to provide a suction box or boxes over and across which the wire travels. The box has openings of some form in its upper side and with the box connected to a source of suction water from the web carried by the Wire is drawn thereinto. l

Under the best conditions, since the wire moves across the box there is at least some Wear of both the box and Wire. The speed of the wire is limited by the ability of the device to eliminate Water so that the eciency of the paper making machinery is impaired. Also lthere is tendency for the openings to become clogged which results in non-uniform results across the width of the wire.

These and numerous other objections are overcome by the provision of .the apparatus of this invention.

According to this invention the suction apparatus thereof has an elongated hollow body which is open along its upper side. A plurality of supporting rolls extend along and adjacent the open side of the body which rotatably support the wire so that with the body being connected to a suitable source of suction water from the web is drawn downwardly between the rolls. The rolls eliminate friction so that the speed of the wire is not necessarily limited as formerly. Means atthe ends of the body are movable in and'out whereby it is possible to vary the deckle and as e. special feature of invention the rolls are supported intermediate their ends at as many places as may be desired and in such a way as to not break up the continuity of the supporting rolls throughout the width of thewire.

*i Various and numerous other novel objects and advantages will -be observed from the following description of the present preferred form of the invention, it being understood that many changes 2 and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

In the drawings:

Figs. land 2 are plan and side elevational views of a suction device embodying the novel features of the invention;

Figs. 3 and 4 are sectional elevational views on the lines 3-3 and 4-4 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a partial enlarged sectional view on the line 5-5 of Fig. 1;

Figs. 6 and 7 are sectional elevational views on the lines 6 6 and 'I-'I of Fig. 1

Fig. 8 is a sectional elevational view through a modified form of body for the device;

Fig. 9 is an enlarged sectional elevational view on the line 9--9 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 10 is a sectional elevational View on the line I--Iii of Fig. 9; and

Fig. 11 is a small scale plan view of an intermediate bracket of the suctiondevice shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

Referring now to the drawings more in detail, the invention will be fully described.

The device of the invention includes an elongated hollow body 2 which in Figs. 1 to 5 inclusive is in the form of a round pipe or the like.

The body provides a closed chamber which is open along its upper side as will be described. A closure 4 may be secured in one end of the body and various fittings 6 and 8 may be employed to facilitate connection of the body to suction and water elimination means which forms no part of the present invention.

Deckle and roll supporting mechanism indi-v cated generally by IIJ is provided at one or both ends of the body. One of such mechanisms will now be described with particular reference to Figs. 1, 2, 5, 6 and 7, it being understood that said mechanisms are substantially similar in construction.

An encl bracket I2 is seated in a suitable seat provided in the upper side 0f the body. Longitudinally extending outer and intermediate members I4 and I6 have lower portions shaped to t between upwardly extending projections I8, as shown. The outer members I4 may be secured t0 the bracket I2 by screws 20 or in some suitable manner. The intermediate member I6 may be secured by a bolt or bolts 22 which extends through the member I2 and the lower side of the body. Any other means desired may be employed. A plate 24 is secured to the upper side of the members I4 and I6, as shown.

The lower portions of the members I4 and Il 3 are well tted to the parts such as I8 so as to hold the said members in accurate alignment and transverse spacing. 'I'he said members I4 and I6 are substantially cylindrical and the longitudinal sides of the plate 24 are curved, as shown in Fig. 5.

In operation of the device, opposite marginal portions of the Fourdrinier wire may run across the plates 24.

Longitudinally extending rolls 30 and 32 extend. between the parts Ill and have opposite ends rotatably journalled relative to the members I4 and I6. 'I'his may be accomplished as will now be explained With reference to Fig. 6.

Journal members 36 have screw portions in engagement with the inner ends of members I4 and I6. Ends of rolls 3i) and 32 which are preferably in the form of tubes are rotatable on the members 36 by means of pins or rollers 39. This form of bearing is commonly known as a needle bearing but any construction adapted to provide free substantially frictionless rotation of the rolls 30 and 32 will suffice.

Reciprocating members 4I) disposed between the members I4 and I6 are provided longitudinally which are made to conform tol said members I4 and I6. They are arranged to slide back and forth therebetween andhave horns 42 on the inner ends thereof which extend between adjacent rolls Sil and 32. v

A U-shaped actuating member 44 has side portions 45 which extend into the members 46 or are in some suitable manner secured thereto.

A bracket I! secured to the body 2 has a screw 50 rotatable therein that is held against axial movement by a collar 52 and manually engageable operating member 54.

The screw 50' is in threaded engagement with the member 44 and as it is rotated in one direction or the other by the member 54 the members 40 are moved back and forth.

As previously stated, the side portions of the wire run over the plates 24 and the members 49 are moved in and out to carry the portions 42 thereof in and out to vary the deckle of the web carried by the wire.

It has been explained how opposite ends of the rolls 353 and 32 are journalled on the inner ends of the members I4 and I6 which are in axial alignment with said rolls The rolls 33 and 32 are preferably as light in weight as is consistent with good mechanicaly construction and where the device is used on a very narrow paper machine they will not sag or whip intermediate their ends to an objectionable extent. As the width of the paper machine is increased, however, it is desirable to support the rolls 33 and 32 intermediate their ends at one or more places depending on the width of the wire. For illustrative purposes the rolls are sup ported intermediate their ends at one place only and the construction to be described may be otherwise employed if desired.

An intermediate bracket @il extends transversely across and isV seated in the body and held in'. position by a bolt or screw 62 extending downwardly therefrom to and through the bottom of the body. V

Hubs 64 extend outwardly from opposite longitudinal sides of the bracket E4 and plugs 66 extend therethrough. Journal members S8 have screw portions li) screw threaded in the plugs 66 and the hubs whereby the parts are held in place against relative movements.

`Pinsor rollers I2V arev disposed between the jour- 4 nal members 68 and races 14 associated with the rolls 30.

Pins or rollers 'I6 are disposed between the plugs 66 and races I8 of auxiliary rolls 80. The rolls 8U are of less diameter than the rolls 30 and 32 and rotate on the plugs in cut-outs 82 DTO- vided in the bracket.

Any suitable thrust means may be employed in connection with the bearing constructions described.

The construction is such that the continuity of the roll supporting means for the Wire is not impaired to the end that the wire is rotatably supported throughout its width.

In operation the wire runs across and is rotatably supported by the rolls 3 and 32 so that with the body connected to a suitable source of suction water is drawn downwardly between the rolls and into the body.

Due to the action of the suction on the web supported by the wire,V the wire W may be inclinedl to extend downwardlyV from one roll and upwardly onto the adjacent roll. To properly support the wire and maintain the continuity of the rolls the axes of rotation of the outermost rolls are disposed inwardly from vertical planes passing through the axes of the-rolls 30 so that with the diameter of the rolls 80 being smaller than that of rolls 3El-, therevis atangency of the periphery of the rolls 30 and 8B at 86 for'supporting the wire.

The device may be adapted forsuse in connection with wires of various widths and the rolls may be supported at various points depending upon the width of Wire and necessity therefor.

As will be seen the longitudinal upper side ofv the body is open below the supporting rollsY 30 and 32 so that the utmost suctionaction is provided.

It may be desirable to provide sealing means between the body and outermost rolls 3Q. To that end a member |00 may be secured to the body and a sealing medium |32 disposed thereabove as shown.

It will. be understood that lubricating means may be provided for lubricating the parts as may be desired.

In the form of the invention shown, the body 2 is shown as being tubular in cross-section but may take any form desired, such for instance as the form shown in Fig. 8 where opposite side wallsv 96 diverge from an open upper side to a bottom wall 98.

The invention may -be embodied in other spe-v cic formswithout departing from the essential characteristics thereof. Hence, the present embodiments are therefore to be considered inall respects merely as being illustrative and not as being restrictive, the scope of the invention be-l ing indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description, and allmodications and variations as fall within the meaning and purview and range of equivalency of the ap pended claims are therefore intended to be cmbraced therein.

What it is. desired to claim and secure by Let'- ters Patent of the United States is:

l. A suction apparatus of the class described comprising in combination, an elongated hollow v body adapted to be connected to a source of suc'- tion, adjustable deckle means at opposite ends of the upper side of the body, the upper side of the bodyr between said deckle means being provided with. an opening, spaced sets ofv rolls over I the openingin said. body, outermost ends of outermost rolls of a set journalled on said deckle means with their inner ends being spaced apart, means for rotatably supporting the spaced ends of the rolls of the sets including a bracket secured to said body and journal means between the roll ends and bracket for rotatably supporting said ends, and auxiliary rolls between the spaced ends of the rolls of the sets which are journalled in said bracket and iill up the space between said ends.

2, A suction apparatus of the class described comprising in combination, an elongated hollow body adapted to be connected to a source of suction, adjustable deckle means at opposite ends of the upper side of the body, the upper side of the body between said deckle means being provided with an opening, spaced sets of rolls over the opening in said body, outermost ends of outermost rolls of a set journalled on said deckle means with their inner ends being spaced apart, means for rotatably supporting the spaced ends of the rolls of the sets including a bracket secured to said body and journal means between the roll ends and bracket for rotatably supporting said ends, and auxiliary rolls between the spaced ends of the rolls of the sets which are journalled in said bracket and fill up the space between said ends, the axes of rotation of the auxiliary rolls of the outermost sets of rolls being disposed inwardly of a Vertical plane passing through the axis of the rolls between which they are disposed and the auxiliary rolls having a portion of their periphery in tangency with the periphery of rolls of the sets.

3. A suction apparatusv of the class described comprising in combination, an elongated hollow.

body adapted to be connected to a source of suction, adjustable deckle means at opposite ends ci the upper side of the body, the upper side of the body between said deckle means being provided with an opening, spaced sets of rolls over the opening in said body, outermost ends of outermost rolls of a set journalled on said deckle means with their inner ends being spaced apart, means for rotatably supporting the spaced ends ci the rolls of the sets including a bracket secured to said body and journal means between the roll ends and bracket for rotatably supporting said ends, and auxiliary rolls between the spaced ends of the rolls of the sets which are journalled in said bracket and fill up the space between said ends, said auxiliary rolls between the ends of the rolls of the outermost sets of rolls having axes disposed inwardly of planes extendingvertically through the axes of the sets or rolls.

4. A suction apparatus of the class described comprising in combination, an elongated hollow body adapted to be connected to a source of suction, adjustable deckle means at opposite ends of the upper side of the body, the upper side of the body between said deckle means being provided with an opening, spaced sets of rolls over the opening in said body, outermost ends of outermost rolls of a set journalled on said deckle means with their inner ends being spaced apart, means for rotatably supporting the spaced ends of the rolls of the sets including a bracket secured to said body and journal means between the roll ends and bracket for rotatably supporting said ends, and auxiliary rolls between the spaced ends of the rolls of the sets which are journalled in said bracket and ll up the space between said ends, said auxiliary rolls between the ends of the rolls of the outermost sets of rolls being of less diameter than that of the rolls of the sets and having axes disposed inwardly of planes extending vertically through the axes of the sets of rolls and having portions of their peripheries coincide with peripheries of the sets of rolls inwardly of said planes.

GILBERT J. SCOFIELD.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 200,369 Young Feb. 12, 1878 644,832 Shearer r Mar. 6, 1900 807,772 Potter Dec. 19, 1905 1,572,238 Jones c- Feb. 9, 1926 1,695,974 Peebles Dec. 18, 1928 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 104,091 Germany July 15, 1899 

